Fault File
All models / All cars / Family & large SUVs / Range Rover Sport

Range Rover Sport

All generations and engines together · 100,289 MOT tests in the 2025 data · typical mileage at age 7: 66k

First-time failure at age 7
14.7%
Across 10,279 tests. The average across all tracked models is 19.5%.
Rank at age 7
49 of 239
1 = lowest failure rate among the models tracked.
Typical mileage at age 7
66k miles
Check the mileage view below; low-mileage models can look better by age than they are.

Generation

Split by first-registration year. Cars registered in a changeover year can belong to either generation.

How this model wears

Range Rover SportClass average, all tracked models

Known issues

Measured

Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.

What testers flag

Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.

Faults with the car itself

The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 42,184 tests in this band.

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Advisory
10.8%class 6.1%
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
Minor
7.8%class 0.6%
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
Fail
4.4%class 0.3%
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Advisory
3.8%class 1.9%
Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
Advisory
3.0%class 2.4%
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Fail
1.9%class 0.2%
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Fail
1.4%class 0.9%
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
Minor
1.3%class 0.6%
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Fail
1.0%class 0.2%
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
Fail
0.8%class 0.4%

Wear, upkeep and luck

Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Advisory
20.9%class 22.9%
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Advisory
13.4%class 8.7%
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
Advisory
11.0%class 10.1%
A tyre seriously damaged
Advisory
8.6%class 13.4%
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
Advisory
3.6%class 3.4%
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
Minor
2.7%class 2.0%
A tyre seriously damaged
Fail
2.3%class 1.4%
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Advisory
2.2%class 2.2%

Unconfirmed issues

Reported

Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.

Air suspension: compressor and airbag leaks

Partly in the MOT data

Warning lights for the self-levelling air suspension are one of the most repeated complaints across generations, with air compressors, height sensors and leaking air springs all named as culprits. It usually shows up as the car sitting low overnight or a warning light after a cold start, and parts-plus-labour for a compressor or spring typically runs into four figures once you're doing more than one corner. The measured MOT data backs this up, suspension is the standout fault category for this segment, though the data can't tell you which specific part is at fault, so a warning light is worth an inspection rather than a guess.

Reported from 60k miles on, worse on older cars · sources: Honest John (2005-2013 and 2013-2022 good/bad pages), Carwow reliability page

SDV6 diesel engine failures: crankshafts and oil issues

Emerging

Owners of the 3.0 SDV6 diesel (2013-2022 cars) have reported serious low-mileage engine failures, including a crankshaft snapping at 63,000 miles and a full engine failure at under 33,000 miles where Land Rover covered most of the repair as goodwill. Earlier 2.7 and 3.0 TDV6 units in the 2005-2013 car have their own history of bearing and crankshaft problems, sometimes needing a full engine at costs quoted around £10,000. There's no public recall or TSB for this, but the goodwill payouts suggest Land Rover knows the pattern exists even if it isn't officially admitted.

Reported from 30-75k miles · sources: Honest John good/bad pages (both generations)

Electrical gremlins: ignition, charging, and dashboard faults

Emerging

A recurring theme is intermittent electrical faults that are hard to pin down: alternator/charging warnings that come and go, steering control functions reversing themselves, and ignition module software leaving cars unable to start. On older cars a failed fuse board can wipe security codes and force an ECU and lock replacement running into thousands. These are the kind of faults that pass an MOT one day and strand you on a driveway the next, and independent garages often struggle without JLR-specific diagnostic kit.

Reported at various ages, no clear mileage pattern · sources: Honest John good/bad pages, Carwow reliability page (electronic faults listed as a top current issue)

Touch Pro Duo infotainment: sluggish and glitchy

Disputed

The dual-screen Touch Pro Duo system fitted to 2013-2022 cars is widely criticised as slow to respond and less capable than a phone-mirroring setup, with owners debating whether it's a genuine fault or just dated software design. It's not something that strands you, but a screen that freezes, lags on inputs, or drops Bluetooth repeatedly is a common gripe and can be a sign of a system overdue a software update rather than a hardware failure.

Present from new on 2013-2022 cars · sources: Honest John good/bad page (2013-2022)

PHEV (P400e) battery and exhaust concerns

Plug-in hybrid only

On the plug-in hybrid version, reviewers flag the high-voltage battery and hybrid electronics, along with exhaust system issues, as the current top areas owners report trouble with. This doesn't apply to diesel or straight petrol V6/V8 cars, but it matters if you're looking at a P400e: check the hybrid warranty is still live, since JLR's battery cover is shorter than some rivals offer.

Applies to plug-in hybrid variants only · sources: Carwow reliability page

Timing chain and tensioner wear on the 5.0 V8

5.0 supercharged V8 only

On the supercharged 5.0 V8 (2005-2013 car), owners report the timing chain developing slack as the tensioner wears at higher mileage, with a proper repair quoted around £4,300 since it means stripping the front of the engine. It's specific to the V8 rather than the diesel range, and a rattly cold start or a check-engine light for cam timing is the tell.

Reported at higher mileages on 5.0 V8 cars · sources: Honest John good/bad page (2005-2013)

Viewing one? Ask this

Built from the two sections above.

Watch the ride height for a few minutes after start-up, ideally from cold. Sinking at one corner or a suspension warning light points to a failing compressor, height sensor, or leaking airbag.
Ask for the last 2-3 years of service and repair invoices, not just the MOT pass. A goodwill engine repair or replaced compressor buried in the history is a red flag the seller won't volunteer.
Start the car from cold and watch the dash for charging or alternator warnings. A warning that flickers and clears itself is the classic sign of the intermittent electrical faults owners report.
Try to start it a second and third time after leaving it for a few minutes. Any hesitation or failure to fire points at the ignition module software issue some owners have hit.
Use the touchscreen for a few minutes, pair a phone, and change a few menus. Lag, freezing, or Bluetooth dropping repeatedly on Touch Pro Duo cars is a known weak spot.
On a 5.0 V8, listen for a rattle in the first few seconds after a cold start. A metallic rattle that fades as oil pressure builds can mean timing chain tensioner wear.
On a plug-in hybrid, check the hybrid battery health readout and confirm the hybrid warranty dates. A battery nearing the end of its warranty is an expensive risk to inherit.

Others in its class

Same segment (Family & large SUVs), best MOT record first. Compare before you shortlist.

How it compares

Head to head with the other popular cars in its class on reliability and common faults.